"I went to Jerusalem to become acquainted (Gk. istoria) with Cephas" - Paul's words from Galatians 1:18.

The Impending 2012 Hysteria

On Saturday, October 17, 2009, one of the first 2012 Survival Conferences will be held in Scottsdale, Arizona. This twelve hour conference, led by Cody Lundin (pictured here), will enable participants to prepare for the coming end of the world as we know it. Cody, the author of two best-selling books on survival and preparedness, 98.6 Degrees: The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive and When All Hell Breaks Loose: Stuff You Need to Survive When Disaster Strikes, is preparing people for the catastrophic end of the modern world on December 21, 2012--the end of the Mayan astronomical calendar. 2012 Survival Conferences might be compared to dispensational Bible conferences; they both get people worked up about the end of the world while neglecting the far more important truth that God has already appointed death to every person--and then the judgment. How one escapes the just judgment of a holy God is a far more important survival question than how one endures natural or supernatural catastrophes in this present world. With that in mind, and recognizing the tendency for those with little or no eternal perspective to fret over cataclysmic world events, I offer my personal tribute to the impending 2012 hysteria.

_________________

AN ODE TO 2012

2012 is coming toward us really fast;

And it prompts me to give you this forecast.

When you look with dread toward events on that date;

You tend to ignore the truth of your personal fate.

It is the individual soul who gives an account to God;

So one ought be very careful how this life is daily trod.

There is no guarantee that you'll be given another breath,

For this reason it's wise you prepare this day for death.

Certain it is that without faith in Christ you will never please

The Righteous Judge whom your sinful self could never appease.

So before you get worked up over events in a forthcoming year;

It should be remembered that it's the Creator whom you should fear.

But once a sinner finds rest through trusting God's gracious cross,

There'll be no more fretting over this world's speculative dross.

In His Grace,

Wade Burleson

P.S. Cody looks like he could double as a 50 year old SBC youth director. :)

I'm neither SBC nor dispensational, but even I can recognize a cheap shot when I see one. Wade, it just seems to me that you undermine so much of your credibility when you just don't seem to be able to RESIST ruining an otherwise well done, and greatly needed, reminder of what our ultimate fate actually depends on. I'm an outsider, but even from my vantage point it has become obvious that many of your readers mostly come around to see what is your latest bashing of the SBC and its leadership. I suppose that I'm sometimes guilty as well, but after a time it does get old and worn-out. The nature of sin is progressive and it seems the need to bash all things SBC here is as well.

I read someplace that some Mayan descendants are now saying that people have misinterpreted the meaning of the calendar, and that the end of the world is not coming in 2012. Whew.

I would say that those cut off shorts would make people wish the end of the world were coming.

Philip, with respect I must disagree with you. I read Wade's blog daily, because I appreciate his heart, and the fact that he is willing to lay himself down to point out issues within the SBC. And there are many. We need people like Wade.

I actually do remember that one. I taught at a Christian school where the pastor/principal was even more of a fundy that I am (woman can't wear pants, KJV only, real nut case) and he like gave away a bunch of his possesions and money because he thought he was homeward bound that September (It was September, wasn't it?) Anyway, he ended up messing himself and family up for real when the rapture didn't happen.

Sadly, I am with you in knowing people who were hurt like the farmer I heard about in east Texas who did the same thing and lost everything. [I preached a meeting at his church and was told of it by the pastor.]

A nuance of all this that is even more problematic as I see it is that lost people are then suppose to take our sharing of the gospel seriously when they've seen our statements about the end of the world being proven foolish? I don't think so.

Actually, the Mayans never said that the world would end in 2012. According to a document, part of which is unintelligible, the god of war and creation would be descending from the sky. There are other Mayan monuments that mention the year 4575. 2012 is significant because it marks the end of a 13 year cycle. 13 years cycles were very important to the Mayans - a whole restoration and renewal event.

This is a case of western-minded apocalyptic theories being forced upon a Mayan culture.

As we continue on through the end of days it will eventually land as hard on America as it will/is demonstrating itself in other parts of the world. Forget about an easy exit strategy...the rapture, so called. And rejoice that the Lord will be with us/you as he was with our Lord at Calvary.

Wade,Great post! However, I actually know a couple of 50+ year old SBC youth ministers. Thankfully neither of them look like the guy in the picture and are making a great impact on the life of teenagers of the gospel!

Thy Peace said:"I would direct you to these comment links 1, 2, and 3. Please watch the videos, at least the #3 comment one and it will answer your questions."

Thank you for referring me to that sermon. That’s the first time I’ve heard Wade preach or speak and it revealed an aspect of his heart which is not apparent in posts and writings. It shows how limited emails and written communications are in conveying true intent and spirit.

As you say, it also answered my question thoroughly and I’m very relieved to understand his motives. Can’t get better than that.

I have recently joined the Freemen apocalyptic group in Montana as an undercover reporter. I must say, I'm ready for Jesus to return at anytime! Nevertheless, I'm also prepared to battle Christ's opponents. Get your guns ready and your heart prepared - Armageddon is a-comin!

The exitement of 2012 is going to be "monetized" just like so much of American Christianity...

When the Greeks got the gospel, they turned it into a philosophy.When the Romans got it, they turned it into a government.When the Europeans got it, they turned it into a culture.When the Americans got it, they turned it into a business.- Unknown

I don't think Cody Lundin or the 2012 Survival Conference actually believe that the Mayan calendar says something will happen in 2012. Rather, they seem to be using it as a way to get people prepared for a sudden societal collapse.

Let me preface what I am about to say by pointing out that I don't believe in any weird Mayan prophecy about the year 2012.

What I do believe, however, is that there is a heightened potential for societal collapse. Such collapses have occurred throughout history and there is nothing to suggest that they won't happen again. One such collapse occurred in the West between the (eventual) fall of the Roman Empire and the beginnings of the Enlightenment - a period of history that was typified by wars, famines and the black death. It was also a period in which Christianity was the dominant religion in Europe.

If societal conditions are heading towards a collapse (as I believe they are), we need to act while still trusting in God's sovereignty. The fact that God is sovereign won't necessarily prevent mankind from suffering the consequences of their actions and inaction.

This is not the end of the world, but the chances are that it will be the end of an era.

Will there be a societal collapse in 2012? Probably not... but that doesn't mean such an event might happen later on.

It seems more than a coincidence that 2012 fever is coming at a time when the people behind a new disaster film, "2012," are gearing up publicity. The director is the same person who helmed "Independence Day."

It seems that no one has mentioned the idea propagated by Dr. Harold Camping of Family Radio that Jesus will return in October 2011. His contention is that the warning, "no one shall know the day or the hour," was valid for the church-age. Now that the church has ended, in his theology, the sealed scroll in the book of Daniel has been opened.

Just wondering if Dr. Patterson and other dispy SBC leaders have ever Googled "Pretrib Rapture Dishonesty," "Pretrib Rapture Pride," and "Pretrib Rapture Stealth." The last item has enough passages from Acts etc. to blow the pretrib rapture all the way back to 1830 and to the doorstep in Scotland of Margaret Macdonald!